Electrical time switch



May 3, 1932. H. scHULER ELECTRICAL TIME SWITCH Filed Nov. 19, 1929 (ifi/((111 .special means, may

Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTVv OFFICE HERMANN SCHULER, OF DUSSELDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO RHEINISCHE METALL- WAAREN- UND MASCHINENFABRIK, OF DUSSELDORF-DERENDORF, GERMANY, A

CORPORATION OF GERMANY ELECTRICAL TIME SWITCH Application led November 19, 1929, Serial No. 408,374, and in Germany November 29, 19278.

The present invention relates to` a 4time switch. `The object of the invention is to provide a time switch which, by the use of a be adjusted accurately and by a regulating device having many steps, resulting in minimum deviations from the time of switching for which the switch is adjusted, which deviations do not exceed the permissible limits. s

In timeswitch according to the invention gas is produced by a controlled gasifying of liquid eected by electrolysis and gas pressure is used as a driving means for bringing a switch member into a position eecting the release of the desired secondary action, for instance the closure or interruption of the external circuit. The electrolysis is, according to the invention, effected in a closed space of constant volume until the increased gas pressure at a, certain height causes removal or destruction of the thin-walled cover plate of a channel or conduit leadingto the movable switch member. The released gas pressure then causes a sudden movement of the switch .member into the operative position in which it, by making Contact, instantaneously eects the release of the desired secondary action. Theproduction of an always equal amount of the, as required for any desired time of switc ing is effected by the use of the electrolysis in an absolutely exact correspndence with the control of the working current supplied to the time switch.

In the accompanying drawings one construction according to the invention is shown in Figure l. The illustrated device is particularly adapted for application in connection with a time switch mechanism for an explosive charge which may be used for blasting purposes in mines and for artillery mines as well as projectiles.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the electrical connections of the device illustrated in Figure l.

The time switch together with the appertaining source of electric current is, for invmaterial. The foil 02 is fixed in position by means of a cover o, screwed upon the metallic protective sleeve or shell o1. A small central bore c3 is provided in the cover c, and in an upper cylindrical enlargement of this bore a contact pin c., is arranged which is axially movable against the pressure of a spring 05 and is insulated from the metal cover 04. The upper end of the contact pin c6 extends into a entral bore d, of the insulating body (l holding the time releasingdevice in the casing. At each side of the bore d1, the insulating body d carries a contact spring e. These contact springs e vare adapted to cooperate with notches provided in the upper end of the contact pin c, as soon as this pin is displaced upwardly in the bore d1, thereby holding said pin in the raised position.

The glass vessel c is filled with an electrolyte, for instance, with a weak acidulous liquid. Two electrodes f are fused through the bottom of the glass vessel c.

The source g of the electric current consists of a galvanic element of well known construction having the electrodes G2 and G3 and a separate glass vessel g1 which contains the acid. The production of current is started onlyafter .the destruction of the glass vessel g1 and the flooding/of the element g with the acid leaving the destroyed vessel g1. A projecting pin h is arranged rotatably and longitudinally movable in the housing a. This pin h, when driven inward manually, will break the glass container g1. The annular resistance z' seated in a stationary in- Q sert b, in the casing, in connection wit-h the to the electrodes f in the gas generator chamber c and serves to regulate the strength of the current supplied tothe gas generator, and thus to determine the time of ignition.

By turning the pin h about its axis, whereby it carries along the contact spring z', by means of the bushing 2, the controlling resistance i is adjusted to produce the current strength desired at any time, whereby the adjusted value of the resistance may be indicated and i of ignition, the current is supplied to the.;

electrodes f of the gas generator in a quite definite strength. The liquid contained in the vessel c is now partly converted into gases by the chemical action of the currentpassing through the said liquid by way of the electrodes f. According to the adjusted strength of current the evolution of gases per unit time is more or less lively. As the vessel c is closed, the pressure of the gas increases with the continued evolution of gases until at aquite denite as pressure thefoil c2, closing` the bore c3 o the vessel c, is disrupted and perforated at this point. The gas now iows against the piston face of the contact pin 0G and suddenly drives this pin between the contact springs e. Hereby the element g, in a well known manner, is inserted in a circuit closed by a second line le, g2, g3, e, k across an ignition means arranged at a certain distance from the time switch mechanism and this provided to open said sealed vessel and allow it to discharge its contents into the galvanic cell to cause the same to produce electricity, when it is desired to operate the device.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sigl nature.

HERMANN SCHULER.

ignition means is thereby ignited and'causes ducing gas electrolytically; conducting means :5.

completing a circuit which includes the source, the cell and the control means in series; and a circuit closing means constituting a movable'closure of the cell, and being movable by virtue of the gas pressure produced in said cell, when said pressure exceeds a definite value, said circuit closing means being adapted to control any desired circuit. l

2. In combination in an electric jtime switch, a source of current; means for controlling the strength of the current delivered from said source of current; a cell for producing gas electrolytically; conductin means completing a circuit which inclu es the source, the cell and the control means in series; a diaphragm closing the cell,'where` by said diaphragm will be disrupted when the gas pressure in the cell exceeds a certain value; and a circuit closing member arranged to be actuated by the gases thus released, said circuit closing member being adapted to control any desired circuit. 

